Does the idea of living in Europe and being able to travel freely across its borders appeal to you? What if we told you that you could get a passport from any European country by moving there?
The EU has been a significant force in international politics and economics for several decades. It has helped spread democracy and human rights worldwide while making it easier for people to travel, work, study and live in different countries without being burdened by bureaucratic rules.
It’s true: citizenship in the European Union (EU) is possible for people willing to make a move. However, it’s not as simple as hopping on a plane — there are several requirements and steps involved before you can obtain EU citizenship by simply moving there.
This is everything you need to know about becoming a citizen of the EU. It’s a great opportunity that can change the trajectory of your life in a genuinely adventurous and international way. While it will take some time and effort, it’s worth all the steps it will take.
What Is the EU?
The EU is a group of countries that share common laws and standards. It was founded in 1993 and today consists of 27 member states:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
What Is Citizenship?
Many people think citizenship is just a passport or residency permit. But this is not true. Citizenship is not only a legal relationship between an individual and some country but also provides rights and obligations for both parties involved in this relationship.
The main difference between citizenship and nationality is that you can have multiple nationalities simultaneously (for example, Canadian-French). Still, you cannot have more than one citizenship at once (unless you are born with dual nationality).
So what exactly does citizenship entail? In practice, it means you have certain rights and responsibilities and specific legal protections under the country’s law. It gives you a legal right to many benefits and privileges that people from other countries simply don’t have.
It is also beneficial because it allows you to permanently live in a place without having to apply for visas regularly. Being a citizen frees you from constantly working to maintain a residence, opening up the possibility of starting a new life there in a new country.
What Are the Benefits of EU Citizenship?
EU citizenship is a status that is separate from national citizenship. EU citizens are entitled to the rights and freedoms of the union at large, which is massively helpful for the citizens.
As an EU citizen, you have the right to live and work in any member state. You can also move from one country to another without applying for a visa. If you're planning on traveling or working abroad, obtaining citizenship will make it much easier for you.
In addition, becoming an EU citizen gives you access to affordable health care coverage wherever you go within Europe — no matter how long your trip is supposed to last.
EU citizens can also take public office in any member state if they meet certain conditions. They may get access to social welfare benefits by being insured as a worker or self-employed person (for example, unemployment benefits), even if they live outside their home country for a long time and become non-residents there.
You can also have dual citizenship with any other country, including:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
It's important to note that while you may be eligible for another nationality (for example, if you were born in Sweden but your parents are American), that doesn't mean you're guaranteed a passport from those countries. Each nation sets its own rules about.
How Do You Become an EU Citizen?
These are the general steps that are common across almost all countries in the EU:
- Apply for citizenship in any EU country.
- Stay in the EU for five years.
- Apply for permanent residency, which you can do after living in the EU for five years, staying legally. You must also have been employed or studied there and show this with a work contract or university diploma.
- Get a permanent residency card when your application has been approved (it will take around two to three months). This allows you to travel between member states without a passport but does not make you an official citizen of the European Union yet.
If you’re interested in becoming an EU citizen, there are a couple of different steps that you will need to take. They will often require lots of time and effort, but once you become a citizen, you will have all the benefits of being a citizen of the EU. Becoming an EU citizen is a long process.
The first step is finding a country that will let you in. You have to have a job offer or be self-employed and show that you can support yourself for five years (which can be difficult if you don't have savings). The process is complex but not impossible.
You'll also need to pass exams proving that you know your host nation's language(s) and a citizenship test examining your knowledge of European history and culture. If all goes well, you could be granted citizenship within five years, or in certain countries, only two years.
Other Ways To Become a Citizen of the EU
- Marriage
- Lineage
While there is the traditional process for becoming a citizen can make the process a little simpler and more accessible. While there will still be many different steps and complications, the overall process will be more straightforward and accessible.
Marriage
If you marry an EU citizen and live in the EU for at least five years, you will be eligible to apply for citizenship. If your spouse is a non-EU national and has lived in the EU for three years before marriage, they can also use it on your behalf. You must have lived in the country where your spouse lives (or lives most of the time) for at least two out of the previous five years before applying.
Lineage
If either of your parents was born in an EU country, or if your grandparents were both born in the same country (and were not stateless at the time), you may be eligible to become an EU citizen. These requirements vary widely from country to country, so check out the various requirements for each country.
Conclusion
Being a part of the European Union (EU) truly has its perks. One is the ability to live and work anywhere within the EU. No matter your lifestyle and occupation, it’s almost always going to be a fantastic opportunity and idea to move to the EU to find new opportunities and ways to live your life.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to get EU citizenship and its benefits. While it may not be easy to move to another country, it’s certainly worth it. The European Union offers many opportunities for those who want a better life away from home or just want a change of scenery.
If you want to learn more about traveling to the EU and the latest travel news, visit the ETIAS resources. EU travel authorization rules frequently change but you can keep yourself informed by following the current ETIAS requirements.
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